West Ham have had a busy few weeks after the announcing the signings of French defender Issa Diop and Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski as Manuel Pellegrini started his summer spending.

Ryan Fredericks had arrived on a free transfer before the latest double capture but now, the cheques have been cashed as 21-year-old Diop has arrived from Toulouse for a club-record, undisclosed fee believed to be £22m up front plus add-ons, while Fabianksi has also come in for an undisclosed amount, thought to be £7m.

More signings are expected to arrive in east London this summer as Pellegrini reshapes the squad he inherited from Slaven Bilic and David Moyes and bringing in youngster Diop and 25-year-old Fredericks is seemingly an indication he wants more passing attributes and pace in his line up.

Speaking of his line up, it's interesting to now have a look at how the Hammers could take to the field for their first pre-season clash with FC Winterthur in Switzerland on July 8 in the Swiss town on the outskirts of Zurich.

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With the signing of the new trio, most would expect them to go straight into the starting lineup for the Premier League opener against Liverpool at Anfield on August 11 but that's impossible to predict right now with a full pre-season ahead.

So, how could the Hammers potentially look with their three new recruits?

5-3-2/5-4-1

The 5-3-2/5-4-1 formation often deployed throughout last season by David Moyes

This is what we saw for the majority of last season, with the impression that there is two up front when in reality, it's one with another dropping back into an attacking midfield position, certainly when defending and sometimes in an attacking sense as well.

It sees 19-year-old Declan Rice paired with Diop and Angelo Ogbonna, with the Italian providing the experience which is vast in comparison to the other two but don't forget, Diop was Toulouse's captain for the last two seasons at a young age.

It also allows Arthur Masuaku to play in a left wing role which is far more suited to him than an orthodox left back because, as we have seen over the last two seasons, the DR Congo man lacks the discipline to play left back.

4-4-2 with Declan Rice in midfield

Declan Rice as a defensive midfielder in a 4-4-2 with Diop at centre back

This is a bit more of an attacking formation with Declan Rice at the base of a midfield four diamond, but could easily be switched out for someone like Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate.

That allows a flat back four, which Pellegrini prefers, as Diop is partnered by Angelo Ogbonna and is flanked by Ryan Fredericks and Aaron Cresswell, again meaning Masuaku is pushed further up the pitch.

It also allows the team to have an attacking midfielder in the Manuel Lanzini-role behind the two strikers.

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Pellegrini's trusted 4-2-2-2

The more traditional Manuel Pellegrini 4-2-2-2/4-4-2

This is the formation we have seen Manuel Pellegrini play in both Spain with Villlarreal, Malaga and Real Madrid, while also during his time in the Premier League with his Manchester City side the captured the title in 2014.

Again, it's a centre back pairing of Diop and Ogbonna with Cresswell at left back and Masuaku on the left wing, tucking inside when defending to make it four in midfield but staying wide in attack to offer width.

Declan Rice is in midfield once again but also, can be swapped out for any of the other midfielders.

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